Fansided

Count on the Yankees chasing these big name free agents in 2019

By Rucker Haringey

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 30: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits a ninth inning double against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 30: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits a ninth inning double against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 30: Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (34) bats during a regular season game between the Colorado Rockies and the visiting Washington Nationals on September 30, 2018 at Coors Field in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 30: Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (34) bats during a regular season game between the Colorado Rockies and the visiting Washington Nationals on September 30, 2018 at Coors Field in Denver, CO. (Photo by Russell Lansford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Bryce Harper

Michael Brantley isn’t the only player who can fill the Yankees void in left field. Harper is another player who would fit in nicely there. Of course, he’s looking for a contract that will pay him over $400 million over the next decade. There are serious questions about whether or not Cashman will pay that sort of price given his other salary obligations.

Unlike Corbin, Harper picked a bad year to hit the open market. His 2018 season was filled with highs and lows. In the end, he only managed to play well enough to earn a WAR of 1.3. That’s going to give a lot of teams pause when they hear his price tag.

Despite his struggles last season, there isn’t much debate about Harper’s talent level. When he’s at his best, he can be the best player in the game. The Yankees are still acutely aware of the attraction of signing a 26-year-old player with Harper’s talent.

At the very least, expect the Yankees to be strongly linked with Harper until he ultimately finds a new team to call home. We don’t think he’s going to be in Boone’s lineup on Opening Day, but stranger things have certainly happened. If Harper’s market does emerge quite like he expects, the Yankees may swoop in and steal him away from his other suitors with a big offer.

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